Biomineralology and ultrastructure of neutrophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria
EMSL Project ID
19812
Abstract
The purpose of the proposed research is to investigate the spatial relationships between iron-oxidizing microbial cells, extracellular polymers, and biogenic iron minerals. The main microbes of interest are cultures of marine iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) isolated from the Loihi hydrothermal vent system in Hawaii (strain PV-1, a Proteobacteria to be named soon) and mid-ocean ridge flank basalt (Marinobacter sp.). These FeOB generally grow lithoautotrophically, and deposit their iron oxide byproducts on extracellular polysaccharide-based structures such as stalks. Our previous studies of terrestrial FeOB have shown that their organic polymers affect the mineralogy of associated iron oxides. Therefore, in this study, we propose to use (1) HRTEM to identify the mineralogy and morphology of iron minerals in FeOB cultures and (2) cryo-electron tomography to characterize the ultrastructure of these bacteria. The mineralogy and extracellular structure morphology of cultures will be compared to corresponding natural samples from the vents and basalt. The long-term goal is to understand the spatial relationships relative between the cells, iron-oxidizing proteins, and minerals.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2006-08-01
End Date
2008-11-11
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members